Sarah Ortiz: Full Circle
Meet Sarah, an environmental scientist and Park Ranger at Gateway National Recreation Area on the east coast. With her 2022 Summit Scholarship courtesy of The Cairn Project, Sarah will be returning to the desert of Southern Utah where she once led backpacking trips in a wilderness therapy setting - an experience that wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies.
Without further ado, meet Sarah!
Hi, Sarah. In 3-4 sentences, tell us who you are.
My name is Sarah and throughout my life I have accumulated many identities. Some of these include environmental scientist, seven sisters alumni, rock climber, Boricua, mental health advocate, carrier of trauma, backpacking guide, activist, open water swimmer, Park Ranger, story teller, land steward and collector of houseplants. The one thing that connects these disparate parts of myself is the overwhelming joy I find in my connection to the natural world.
What did you do right after finding out that you received the scholarship?
Immediately after receiving the scholarship I called my mom to tell her the news. This was my first year applying to the Summit Scholarship and I was convinced that I would be applying for years before receiving an acceptance. My mom on the other hand, was sure, from the beginning, that I would be accepted for 2022; best, “I told you so” I ever heard.
What excites you most about that particular Summit Scholarship?
My first job in the outdoor industry was based out of Kanab, in the same desert as the Paria Canyon backpacking scholarship. With this job I hoped to empower women and girls through backpacking and survival instruction but instead, to my shock, I watched as the program I worked for failed to meet the basic needs of its female clients time and time again.
I am excited to return to southern Utah, this time with the Summit Scholarship, to heal my relationship with the desert and learn about outdoor empowerment from guides that focus on the female experience. I hope that this opportunity helps me to create safe spaces for women and other marginalized groups in the outdoors for the rest of my career.
What do you think is going to be the most challenging aspect of your Summit Scholarship adventure?
I think the most challenging part of my Summit Scholarship adventure will be the endurance associated with a week of thru-hiking. Over the past couple of years I have become a bit obsessed with rock climbing and have lost most of the endurance I once had as a hiker. That being said, I am already preparing to revisit endurance training in order to feel comfortable and confident while hiking Paria Canyon.
Sarah - we are so excited that you’ll be returning to the Kanab area with the Summit Scholarship, and we hope that you’ll experience a different attitude towards women in the outdoors than you did before! To follow along, find Sarah on Instagram at @sarahbellaortiz or follow our sister organization AWExpeditions on Instagram or Facebook.
